About this piece

A handmade ceramic dog urn for ashes, sculpted by hand into the shape of your own dog and hand painted to their markings, coloring and expression. This personalized dog cremation urn is a custom pet sculpture made to order from your photos, with the ears, muzzle and build shaped to suit their breed, whether a French Bulldog, Labrador or Dachshund, and finished with their name and chosen collar color. Painted in underglaze that fuses into the clay and sealed under a fired glaze, the color will never scratch, peel or fade, and fired ceramic lasts for centuries. It is a one of a kind keepsake shaped for your best friend.

See more finished pieces in our gallery for the true look and feel.

Size and capacity

Sculpted in one carefully designed size, with a larger custom size available on request.

• Height: 7.1 in (18 cm)
• Width: 4.9 in (12.5 cm)
• Capacity: 122 cubic inches (2 L, about 68 fl oz)
• Suitable for pets up to about 121 lb (55 kg)

A few easy ways to picture the fit: as a rule of thumb an urn needs about 1 cubic inch of space per 1 pound of body weight, so 122 cubic inches comfortably holds most dogs, from a French Bulldog or Beagle up to a Labrador or Golden Retriever. If you would rather work from the ashes themselves, volume in millilitres is roughly the weight in grams multiplied by 1.5. If your companion was a larger breed, or you would like the piece scaled to a particular build, choose Custom size and I will shape it to fit.

Processing and shipping

Every dog urn is made to order and shaped entirely by hand around your own companion, so it takes real time to create. Please allow 8 to 10 weeks minimum from the day you order, and a little longer for more detailed builds, unusual coats or several rounds of refinement on the mock up. Each piece is sculpted, painted and finished slowly so it truly reflects your dog.

Shipping is always free, anywhere in the world, and every piece is packed with great care to travel safely.

Here is how your piece comes together: we start by discussing the pose, size and overall look, and I create a 3D model for your approval and refine it until it feels right. From that I sculpt and cast the form and bisque fire it, then hand paint your companion from your photos in underglaze and send a painted proof to approve. After any refinements, I glaze the piece and complete the final firing, add any finishing details, and package it carefully for the journey to you.

Because each piece is made slowly by hand and depends on the kiln, I take on only a small number of custom orders at a time, so it is best to order early if you need it by a certain date.

What to expect from handmade ceramic

A few honest notes, because this is handmade ceramic and I would always rather you know exactly what to expect:

• Ceramic is unpredictable in the kiln. The exact result is never known until firing is complete, and that unpredictability is part of what makes each piece unique.
• Color cannot be guaranteed one hundred percent. Ceramic pigments shift slightly during firing, and every screen shows color a little differently.
• Underglaze always looks softer and lighter before firing. The kiln deepens every tone.
• Each piece is completely handmade, so no two are ever identical. Small natural variations are part of the character.
• My aim is a loving likeness of your companion, not a perfect photographic replica.
• Once fired, the design and colors are permanently set and cannot be changed.
• Engraving is permanent. Once a detail is carved it cannot be smoothed away.
• Occasionally a piece can crack or develop a small flaw in the kiln. If that happens I remake it fully, which can extend the timeline.
• Finely carved contour details carry a higher risk in the kiln, so there is a natural limit to how deep engraving can safely go.